It wasnât until during the first semester when Dexter was in grade 11 that the school, in an effort to alleviate academic stress, specifically held a singing competition. Watching his classmates jumping around like monkeys let out of a zoo, Leanne remained indifferent, On the day of the finals, she sneaked off to sleep backstage, undisturbed by any commotion.
What she hadnât expected was that she would sleep so soundly. By the time she fully woke up, both the front and back stages were already deserted. A vast darkness had descended. The window hadnât been shut tight, and the night wind was very cool. As it poured in through the window, it felt particularly chilling.
She slowly rose to her feet, straining to make out her surroundings, but could only discern faint shadows. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she swallowed hard. Feeling her way along the wall, inch by inch, she tried to locate the door.
She heard her own rapid breathing amplified manifold in the pitch-black room, her legs feeling somewhat weak.
When the door suddenly swung open with a click, she was so startled that she jumped, let out a scream, and then her legs gave way, causing her to fall clumsily to the ground. The person who opened the door seemed equally startled by her reaction and stood frozen in the doorway.
It was at that moment that Dexter entered her line of sight. Once she saw him clearly, she was on the verge of tears. âDex!â
Dexter stood upright at the door, appearing very stalwart, still maintaining the posture he had when he first opened the door.
He was somewhat taken aback. âLeanne, how come youâre here? Iâve been looking for you for ages!â
She got up, her voice muffled from the shock. âI fell asleep and no one woke me up.â
Young Dexter laughed and stepped forward. With a familiar case, he slapped his hand against the wall and the room was suddenly bathed in light. The abrupt brightness stung her eyes, causing her to close them. It took her a moment before she could open them again, She dusted off her clothes, watching him in his school uniform, tall and thin, bending over steadily to open a drawer and pull out a pair of white headphones. He said, âIf I hadnât left my headphones here, I really wouldnât have found you.â
With childlike innocence, she reached out her hand, asking him to hold her.
With a sense of helplessness, Dexter extended his hand, hoisted her onto his back, and walked out.
She was lying on him, feeling sleepy, when she suddenly remembered, âDex, did you participate in the singing competition? What did you sing?â
Dexter was surprised. âYou donât know?â
âI donât know! Was it a nursery rhyme?â she asked, her voice still carrying a childlike innocence.
âI sang an Uprian song.â Dexter couldnât help but sigh. âYouâre still a child, but Iâve already grown up.â
âHow old can you be? Youâre just three years my senior Despite the three-year-gap, the difference in their maturity was significant.
That summer after she graduated from elementary school, she managed to get into the middle school of the same institution with her barely passing grades. Henry was so delighted that he took them both on a special trip abroad.
It was quite strange. She had traveled to far-off places and returned unscathed. Yet, on the eve of starting school, she simply vanished after returning home from the Fu familyâs house, disappearing from the lives. of the two people who loved her dearly.
The dream was chaotic, with many things surfacing in the mind, rushing out one after another, exceptionally vivid and clear.
The image of the young boy in her dreams gradually merged with the man standing before her. A strong sense of dependence surged within her, almost making her lose her voice.
âMs. Warren! Ms. Warren is awake! Whereâs the doctor? A familiar voice echoed in her ears. She struggled to open her eyes, seeing the stark white ceiling above.
Her forehead hurt, and so did her brain.
Josie stared at the ceiling for a while before accepting the reality of waking up from a dream.
Why did she wake up? Perhaps it was because her memory stopped there.
âMs. Warren?â the doctor asked as he took measurements of her vitals. âHow are you feeling?â